The Patriots overcame a pair of first-half turnovers and a 10-point deficit to earn their first road win of the season, 38-31, over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. It was not easy. Tight end Rob Gronkowski did not play due to a back injury, and running back Sony Michel injured his knee on the first play of the second quarter and did not return.
The Bears almost tied it on the final play of the game when quarterback Mitch Trubisky lobbed a Hail Mary from his own 45-yard line. Wide receiver Kevin White was able to make the catch at the Patriots’ one-yard line, but was stopped short of the end zone by Duron Harmon and a bevy of defenders.
Advertisement
“The Hail Mary got caught and it was super close,” said running back James White. “They say it’s a game of inches, and that’s what it came down to.”
Tom Brady completed 25 of 36 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
“Obviously it came down to about one yard, but for us to get a win on the road is something we’ve been talking about and something we needed to do,” Brady said
It was a nice comeback for the Patriots, who surrendered 17 straight points in the first half after jumping out to a 7-0 lead on their opening drive. The Bears scored two touchdowns off Patriots turnovers, the first one on a fumble during a kickoff return by Cordarrelle Patterson.
“The turnovers are frustrating because we talk about them all the time, we just haven’t corrected them yet, and if we do, it’s going to be great because we’ll hold onto the ball and make it a lot tougher for them to score, and hopefully we’ll score more points,” said Brady.
The second score was set up by a fumble by Michel, who lost the ball as he injured his knee. The rookie out of Georgia was helped off the field and ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Advertisement
“I hope for a speedy recovery for him, but when guys go down, it’s up to the rest of us to step up, and that’s what we did,” said White, who had a pair of touchdown receptions as the Patriots rallied from a 17-7 deficit.
The Patriots would score twice before the first half came to a close to regain the lead at halftime.
Patterson atoned for his miscue, fielding a kickoff at his own five and returning it 95 yards for a touchdown and pulling the Patriots to within 17-14. They took the lead at the end of the half, 21-17, when Brady connected with White for a five-yard touchdown.
After the Bears opened the second half by regaining the lead when Trubisky connected with Tarik Cohen for a six-yard touchdown pass, but the Patriots answered with a field goal to even the score at 24-24.
Special teams came through again in the third quarter when Dont’a Hightower blocked a punt, and Kyle Van Noy was able to corral the loose ball and run 30 yards for the score, putting the Patriots ahead 31-24.
The Bears were marching for the tying score early in the fourth quarter, when Jonathan Jones picked off Trubisky, giving the Patriots the ball at their own four yard line.
From there, the Patriots executed a nine-play, 96-yard touchdown drive that ate up 4:25 and put them ahead, 38-24, with 8:40 remaining in the game. White scored the second of his two touchdowns, a six-yard reception from Brady, with the key play coming on a 55-yard reception by Josh Gordon, who caught the ball at the Chicago 30, spun out of a tackle, and ran to the one-yard line.
Advertisement
The Patriots had a chance to put the game away, but Brady was intercepted by Kyle Fuller at the Chicago 37, and the Bears answered with a six-play, 63-yard drive to pull within 38-31 with 4:13 remaining.
Box score: Patriots 38, Bears 31
Below are updates posted as the game developed:
Fourth quarter
Patriots 38, Bears 31 (Final): The Patriots hold on to win as Kevin White is stopped at the one after catching a Hail Mary pass on the game’s final play.
Patriots 38, Bears 31 (0:24): Patriots run the clock down before punting back to the Bears, who are out of timeouts.
Patriots 38, Bears 31 (4:13): The Bears make it a one possession game on Trey Burton’s 11-yard touchdown reception from Mitch Trubisky.
Patriots 38, Bears 24 (6:24): Tom Brady is picked off by Chicago’s Kyle Fuller, allowing the Bears to take over at their own 37.
Patriots 38, Bears 24 (7:47): The Bears were forced to punt after Adrian Clayborn’s first sack as a Patriot set up a fourth and 20. The punt went just 38 yards, and the Patriots will start at the Chicago 43.
Advertisement
Josh Gordon now has 4 catches for 100 yards after that 55 yard grab. Gordon's first 100-yard game as a Patriot
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Patriots 38, Bears 24 (13:05): The Patriots extended their lead with a nine-play, 96-yard drive that culminated in James Whites 0ne-yard touchdown reception. The key play came on a 55-yard reception by Josh Gordon, who caught the ball at the Chicago 30, spun out of a tackle, and ran down to the Chicago one-yard line.
.@Jonathan_Jones2 only needed one hand... 👀@Patriots force a turnover!
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2018
📺: CBS #GoPats pic.twitter.com/5ASXYE5tWE
Patriots 31, Bears 24 (13:05): Jonathan Jones halts another Chicago drive, picking off Mitch Trubisky to give the Patriots the ball on their own four-yard line.
Third quarter
Patriots 31, Bears 24 (1:24): After getting one first down, the Patriots stall and are forced to punt. The Bears are called for holding on the play, and get the ball on their own 14.
JC Jackson ..... totally redeem yourself. Second INT of the season
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Patriots 31, Bears 24 (3:38): J.C. Jackson picks off Mitch Trubisky, ripping the ball away from Bears receiver Josh Bellamy to give the Patriots the ball on their own 21.
Blocked punt.
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2018
Scoop.
And SCORE.
👏👏👏 @KVN_03
📺: CBS #GoPats pic.twitter.com/BmtUnfGA9c
CBS says that was the Patriots' first blocked punt for a TD since 1996, and the first one allowed by the Bears since 1987
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Patriots 31, Bears 24 (5:53): The Patriots take the lead on their second special teams touchdown of the day. Dont’a Hightower blocked a punt, and Kyle Van Noy scooped it up and rumbled 30 yards for the score.
Patriots 24, Bears 24 (7:48): The Patriots drove down to the Chicago seven before the drive stalled, and settled for a 29-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski to even the score.
Trubisky just running circles around the Patriots' D, whose lack of speed is getting badly exposed
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Bears 24, Patriots 21 (12:04): The Bears took the lead when Mitch Trubisky connected with Tarik Cohen for a six-yard touchdown pass. The Bears took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched down to the Patriots’ one-yard line in just three plays. A penalty moved the ball back to the six, where they converted on third and goal.
Advertisement
Halftime
Halftime. Patriots 21, Bears 17. Patriots could not have played more sloppily, but still lead by four.
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
The Patriots got off to a fast start in this one, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards on eight plays to seize a 7-0 lead. The drive was capped by a nine-yard touchdown reception by Julian Edelman.
The Bears would score the next 17 points though, aided by a pair of Patriots turnovers. The first came after Chicago had trimmed the lead to 7-3, when Cordarelle Patterson fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. The Bears capitalized on Mitch Trubisky’s eight-yard scramble for a 10-7 lead.
On the first play of the second quarter, Sony Michel injured his leg and fumbled on the play. Chicago recovered at the Patriots’ 36 and would take the lead, 17-7 on Jordan Howard’s touchdown plunge from two-yards out. The drive was aided by several Patriots penalties.
Patterson atoned for his miscue on the next kickoff, fielding the ball at his own five and returning it 95 yards for a touchdown and pulling the Patriots to within 17-14.
The Patriots took the lead at the end of the half when Brady connected with James White for a five-yard touchdown.
Brady completed 14 of 20 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Second quarter
Patriots 21, Bears 17 (0:14): Patriots were forced to punt. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on Keion Crossen call gave the Bears the ball at their 38.
Patriots 21, Bears 17 (1:38): Lucky break for the Patriots. After forcing the Bears to punt, the ball hits Edelman in the face mask and springs loose on their own four, before Julian Edelman is able to recover the fumble.
4th & 1...
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2018
Get the ball to @JOSH_GORDONXII.
Move the sticks.
📺: CBS #GoPats pic.twitter.com/itEEOjVvs9
At the 2-minute warning, Bears QB Mitch Trubisky has 43 passing yards and 42 rushing yards. #Patriots
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 21, 2018
Josh Gordon looks a little shaken up after that catch. But big time catch for 23 yards on fourth and 1. Patriots haven't had a WR who can catch a jump ball like that in awhile
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Patriots 21, Bears 17 (3:58): The Patriots regain the lead as Tom Brady connects with James White for a five-yard touchdown pass. Earlier in the drive, the Patriots rolled the dice on 4th and one, and converted on a 21-yard pass from Tom Brady to Josh Gordon to the Chicago 23.
Bears 17, Patriots 14 (9:46): The Patriots get the ball back at their own 35 after forcing Chicago to punt.
So. Much. SPEED.@ceeflashpee84 goes 95 yards to the HOUSE!
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2018
📺: CBS #GoPats pic.twitter.com/7rh79ipuRK
Patterson slowed down at the end to high-five JC Jackson before going into the end zone, and almost drifted out of bounds. Oh man
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Bears 17, Patriots 14 (10:48): Cordarrelle Patterson atones for earlier fumble, returning the kick 95 yards to pull the Patriots back to within a field goal.
The Bears get about 18 extra opportunities on that drive, and Jordan Howard punches it in from two yards out.
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Bears 17, Patriots 7 with 11:05 left 2Q. Turnovers and penalties are killing the Patriots
Patriots say Michel does in fact have a knee injury, and is questionable to return today. He was carted off, didn't look good
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Bears 17, Patriots 7 (11:05): Jordan Howard scores from two yards out to give the Bears a 17-7 lead. The critical play of the drive was a 17-yard completion on fourth and 8 from Mitchell Trubisky to Trey Burton to keep the drive alive. A Duron Harmon holding penalty also gave the Bears a first and goal, as did a J.C. Jackson hands to the face penalty.
Michel looks like he twisted his knee there. He's getting attention. #Patriots
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 21, 2018
Bears 10, Patriots 7 (14:51): Not a good start for the Patriots in the second quarter, as running back Sony Michel fumbles on the first play and the Bears recover on the Patriots 36. Michel was hurt and had to be helped off the field.
First quarter
Wow. Wow. Wowwwwwwwwwww.@Mtrubisky10 makes a little magic happen and finds the end zone for the @chicagobears!
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2018
📺: CBS #DaBears pic.twitter.com/i33EuxHtuk
Crazy Legs Trubisky scrambles 40 yards on an 8 yard touchdown. Patriots had him, let him slip away
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Bears 10, Patriots 7 (0:59): Mitch Trubisky scores from eight yards out to give Chicago the lead. The Bears were facing third and eight, when Trubisky dropped back and was sealed off to his right. He spun back to his left, eluding Adrian Clayborn, and waltzed in for an easy score.
Cordarrelle Patterson coughs it up on the kickoff return. It's the Patriots' 11th turnover of the year. They had 12 all of last year. Bears take over on the Patriots' 24
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Patriots 7, Bears 3 (3:44): The Patriots turn the ball over on Cordarrelle Patterson’s fumble on the kickoff return. Bears take over at the New England 24.
Allen Robinson gets a demerit on that one. Should've had the catch and the first down. Instead Bears settle for 46 yard FG.
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Score is Patriots 7, Bears 3 with 3:50 left 1Q
Patriots 7, Bears 3 (3:50): The Bears get on the board on Cody Parkey’s 46-yard field goal, capping a 35-yard drive for Chicago. Mitch Trubisky completed a 22-yard pass to Trey Burton to get the ball in Patriots’ territory.
Two straight plays of Mack dropping off into coverage. Are the Bears out-thinking themselves?
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Patriots 7, Bears 0 (7:34): Patriots go three and out, throwing on all three plays, two of which were incompletions to Julian Edelman. Bears take over at their own 35 after the Patriots punt.
Patriots 7, Bears 0 (8:35): Chicago quarterback Mitch Trubisky scrambled 14 yards on third and 6 to keep the drive alive, but the Bears failed to keep it going on the next set of downs and were forced to punt. Defensive back Jonathan Jones provided great pressure to force an incompletion.
Hogan's trip to medical tent was a brief one. Got his helmet on. Looks ready to re-enter when #Patriots get the ball back.
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 21, 2018
Brady to Edelman, who ran tough after the catch, for the TD. #Patriots draw first blood. 7-0. Chris Hogan walks off after having left leg looked at.
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 21, 2018
Patriots 7, Bears 0 (11:00): The Patriots got on the scoreboard first when Julian Edelman caught a nine-yard touchdown pass, capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive. Sony Michel began the drive with an 18-yard run, then followed it up with a 13-yard reception. James White came in to spell Michel and caught a 14-yard pass as well to move the ball to the Chicago 30.
Coin Toss
The Bears won the toss and deferred. The Patriots will start with the ball.
Pregame scenes and observations
This poor band is playing for like six people pic.twitter.com/BdgcNYxTa4
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Tom Brady's weapons today:
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
RB: Michel, White, Barner
WR: Edelman, Gordon, Hogan, Dorsett, Patterson
TE: Allen
FB: Develin
OLB Khalil Mack and WR Allen Robinson are active for #Bears Both were questionable all week. https://t.co/l4Fa5y5E6t
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 21, 2018
Big fan of the diagonal, skinny section of seats pic.twitter.com/dUzIFgDPlX
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
#Patriots rookie LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (red top), who is on IR reportedly with a torn right biceps, is working out at Soldier Field. Leaves open the possibility of a December return. pic.twitter.com/1UO740DAzt
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) October 21, 2018
Some beautiful views at Soldier Field pic.twitter.com/cUQDgazyIz
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Welcome to Soldier Field. Part Roman coliseum, part spaceship pic.twitter.com/HSAK6UWiCc
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 21, 2018
Inactives
Patriots: DE John Simon, DL Geneo Grissom, TE Rob Gronkowski, T Marcus Cannon, TE Jake Hollister, OL Brian Schwenke, DL Keionta Davis
Bears: DB Marcus Cooper, FB Michael Burton, LB Kylie Fitts, OL Rashaad Coward, OL Bryan Witzmann, WR Javon Wims, DT Nick Williams
Gronk out: Rob Gronkowski has been ruled out for today’s game. He did not make the trip to Chicago with the team. Gronkowski was listed on the team’s injury report Friday with a back injury. He’s also been dealing with an ankle injury since Week 3.
The Bears, however, may be without star linebacker Khalil Mack. Mack played through an ankle injury in a 31-28 loss to the Dolphins last week and is listed as questionable. Sony Michel (knee) and Julian Edelman (heel) are listed as questionable put are expected to play, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pregame reading
■ Jim McBride’s scouting report: Who has the edge in every phase of the game, players to watch, and more.
■ Ben Volin writes that the Bears are a lot like the Chiefs, who the Patriots faced last week.
■ In Volin’s Sunday Football Notes, TV ratings and TD numbers are on the rise in the NFL.
■ From Nora Princiotti: The Patriots are running the ball more and it’s helping the passing game
Brandon Chase can be reached at brandon.chase@globe.com